Events all weekend for the Noque Ski Marathon

The Upper Peninsula is all abuzz with the Noquemanon Ski Marathon kicking off Friday night.

The event features not only skiing, but snow biking, snowshoeing, and a three-mile Junior Noque for kids, so they are not left out in the cold.

Set-up started early Friday at the Superior Dome, which will be the home base for check–in, registration, vendors, live music, and even an awards ceremony.

More than $1, 300 winter sports enthusiasts have registered for the annual event.

Associate Athletics Director at Northern Michigan University, Carl Bammert says, “Every Noquemanon Ski Race has ended here at the Superior Dome,” Northern Michigan University’s Associate Athletic Director Carl Bammert said.  “It’s a real nice place for them to finish right outside our doors, they can come inside and get a nice warm cup of soup, take a shower, so this is an ideal place to end the race.”

“The public is encouraged to come here to the dome and watch the skiers come in and other things that are going on here,” volunteer Ruth Ann Barger said.  “They can get inside the Dome all weekend and this is where the racers finish and it’s always nice to have a big crowd here to cheer everybody.”

Noque Wear’s John Becker was the first vendor to set up.

He said with so much going on this weekend there was no time to waste.  “This is a signature event for the community, it brings so many people into town and there is really nothing else like it that happens in our community in the winter,” he said.

There is no entry fee for the Superior Dome, and you do not need a ticket to attend the awards ceremony.